Fifth-wheel



No. 751,699. PATENTED FEB. 9, 1904. I. TEETER & B. E. SLY.

FIFTH WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1. 1900 NO MODEL. 4 SHEETSSHE ET 1.

ATTORNEYS.

No. 751,699. PATENTEDPEB. 9, 1904.

I. TEETBR & B. E. SLY.

FIFTH W L. APPLICATION FILE E. 1. 1900.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A FOR/VH8.

wm-muwa, WAsnmGTQM. D. c.

No. '751,699. PATENTED FEB. 9, 1904. I. TEETER & B. E. SLY.

FIFTH WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1. 1900.

N0 MODEL. SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES P ATENTED FEB. 9, 1904.

I. TEEN-1R6: B. E. SLY.

FIFTH WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1900.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES: .4

' A TTOHNEYS.

Patented February 9, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA TEETER AND BYRON E. SLY, OF VVATERTOVVN, NEW YORK.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,699, dated February9, 1904.

Application filed March 1, 1900. Serial No. 6,893. (No model.)

To (I/ZZ whmn may concern.-

Be it known that we,IRA TEETER and BYRON E. SLY, of 'Watertown, in thecounty of Jefferson, in the State of New York, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Fifth- W'heels, of which the following, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle-gears, having moreparticular reference to the fifth-wheel.

Our object is to construct a fifth-wheel so arranged and secured to theaxle as to obviate the necessity of passing a king-bolt through the axlein the ordinary way; and to that end our invention consists in theseveral other new and novel features of construction and operation whichare hereinafter more fully described in the claims hereunto annexed.

It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which-- Figure 1 shows a top plan View of what is commonlyknown as a banner-wagon gear provided with our improved fifth-wheel.Fig. 2 is a front view of the axle, fifth-wheel, and head-block at thepoint where they are connected, partly in section. Fig. 3 is a sectionon line a? :11, Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a section on line 1 y, Fig; 2,looking downward, showing the upper part of the fifth-wheel in sectionand the lower in full as they appear in their normal positions. Fig. 5is a similar view showing the parts as they appear when the axle isturned partially around, as it appears when cramping. Fig. 6 is a viewof the lower face of the fifth-wheel. Fig. 7 shows a modified form ofmounting the fifth: wheel to adapt it to a Conger-spring. Fig. 8 showsanother modification adapting the device for use in connection with anelliptic spring.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The gear comprises the front and rear axles 1, the side springs 2 3, andthe center spring #1. The springs are secured to the rear axle, the sidesprings being secured to the headblock 5, while the center spring 4: asit approaches the forward end turns downward and passes under theforward axle and is provided .within each other.

with bolt-holes 6 and 7 for the purpose hereinafter specified.

The fifth-wheel A comprises two sections 8 and 9, which are providedwith corresponding annular beads and grooves upon their meeting faces,as shown in Fig. 3, so that they will rotate freely and with the leastamount of friction The part 9 is constructed substantially as shown inFig. 3, having the central annular bead 10 and the upwardly-extendingrib 11, that portion of the periphery between the bead 10, the rib 11,and the bottom edge 12 being grooved or concaved and affording abearing-surface for theupper section 8. Section 9 is also provided witha central circular bolt-hole 13, the lower end of which is enlarged, asshown at 14c, for receiving the head 15 of the bolt 16. The head of thebolt 16 is loosely mounted in the said enlarged portion, whereby thebolt is prevented from rotating as the lower member of the fifth-wheelis turned. The section 9 vis also provided with clownwardly-extendinglips 17, adapted to hold and engage the axle. The upper section 8 isprovided in its lower face with a recess and indentations adapted toreceive the aforesaid bead and rib and with swelled portions to engagewith the annular concavities' in the part 9. It is also provided with acentral opening 18,through which the bolt 16 passes up through thehead-block 5 and is held in position by a nut and washer 19 on top inthe ordinary way.

Upon one edge of the upper section 8 we extend a lip 20 and provide itwith a bolt-opening 21, and 22 is a bolt extending from the section 8.to the forward end of the spring 4:, as shown in Fig. 3, and serves tohold the upper section of the fifth-wheel fast with the spring 4 and theheadblock 5, which is mounted on top. The upper section 8 is alsoprovided on opposite sides with lateral extending flanges 23, by whichit is secured to the headblock 5 by bolts 24. 25 is a bracket havinglips 26, in which lower edge of the axle 1 rests. The bracket 25 is alsoprovided with a bolt-opening 27, the upper end of which is enlarged forreceiving the head of the bolt 28 which passes through the opening 6 ofthe spring a, that is held in position by an ordinary nut. By providingthe enlarged end in the bolt-opening the bolt is prevented fromrotating.

It will be observed that when the forward axle 1 is placed in position,as shown in Fig. 3, and the fifth-wheel placed on top and clamped by thebolt 22, as shown, the gear may be clamped readily in either direction.

In Figs. 4 and 5 we show more clearly the manner in which the twosections are placed together. This is acomplished by providing the rib11 with a pair of diametrically oppositely disposed cut-out portions 11,so as to divide the rib into two portions which pass through, during thecoupling operation, cutout portions in the bulged portion or rib of thedepending flange of the upper member. After the portions of the rib 11have been thus inserted through the openings or cut-out portions of thelast-named ribs the upper member is given a partial turn, so as toprevent accidental displacement of the two sections.

In Fig. 2 we show a machine-screw 30 passing down through the upperplate, the lower end of which is adapted to engage with the abutting endor wall of the removed portion, so as to prevent its being rotatedbeyond a certain position.

The lower edge of the axle 1 is convex, as indicated at 31, whereby itwill snugly seat in the bracket 25.

Having described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

1. A fifth-wheel comprising upper and lower members having centralbores, the lower member thereof having its upper face formed with acentrally-arranged annular recess and an annular cavity encircling thesame, the outer edge of which merges in a rib arranged at the upper edgeof said member, and having suitable spaced cut-out portions, the sidesof the lower member having a groove formed therein, with its lower edgeextending outwardly beyond its upper edge, the upper member at its edgehaving an annular depending flange carrying an annular rib havingcut-out portions registering with the rib-sections of the lower member,the lower portion of the inner face of the flange of said upper memberconforming to the contour of the lower edge of the lower member, thelower member having its lower side provided with downwardly-extendinglips adapted to engage the axle, a headed bolt passing through the boresof the said members and having its head seated on the upper side of theaxle, and engaging in an enlarged opening in the lower portion of thelower member provided therefor, a bracket having lips secured to thelower side of the axle, a headed bolt engaging the under side of theaxle and seated in an enlarged recess provided therefor in the bracket,said bolt having a nut therein for securing the outer spring of thegear, and a lip having an opening therein formed integral with the uppermember, with a bolt passing through said opening and rigidly secured tothe center spring, substantially as described.

2. A fifth-wheel comprising two sections, the upper section being formedwith an annular opening or recess, the side wall of which is providedwith an inwardly-extending curved bead, said bead being formed withcut-out portions, the top or inner wall of said recess being formed witha centrally-arranged depending portion having inclined sides, saiddepending portion and side walls of the recess being connected bydownwardly-curved portions, the lower member being formed in its upperface with a centrally-arranged recess having inclined walls to receivethe depending portion of the upper member lying directly thereabove, andhaving its upper face on each side of said recess curved inwardly, thevertical walls of said lowermember being formed with a groove whereby arib is formed at the upper edge thereof, said-rib being formed withcut-out portions, and a bolt passing through said members.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set I our hands this 20th day ofFebruary, 1900.

IRA TEETER. BYRON E. SLY.

Witnesses: FRANoIs H. FrroH, WVALLAoE Yosr.

